EFCC Arraigns Man Over Alleged ₦150m Land Fraud
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ndubuisi Iheukwumere John before Justice Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, over an alleged ₦150 million fraud.
John was arraigned on Monday, January 26, 2026 on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly conspired with Emmanuel Emifoniye and Salt Adaeze Udoka, both currently at large, in November 2024 to obtain money by false pretence, an offence contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
In the second count, the EFCC alleged that between December 1 and 7, 2024, John and one of his accomplices fraudulently obtained the sum of ₦150 million from one John Abike Ifejiofor under the guise of selling a parcel of land located at Ewulu Community, Delta State.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional centre. Defence counsel, however, applied for bail, noting that the offences were bailable.
Justice Adetutu granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid title documents, to be verified by the court registrar in collaboration with EFCC operatives. The defendant was also ordered to submit a certified statement of his bank account to the court.
The case was adjourned to March 16, 2026 for commencement of trial.
